i probably pulled this latest piece outta my ass....only because i'm trying to adjust to increasing my scale. there's a certain comfort in working with smaller proportions (at least for me). it means not having to invest a lot in materials, effort, time, and.....commitment. but, i realize almost all things worth achieving in life are not easily attainable, and so i keep trying to visualize the goal. i'm pacing myself, taking the necessary baby steps in order to evolve. change isn't easy, but that's what makes it so gratifying.

this work only measures a little over 8 inches square....which seems teeny tiny to most, but not to me. i'm used to taking very small objects and fragments and making them fit within a scale that won't dwarf them. so, such is the challenge with this latest series....making it bigger, yet minimal....AND better.

I'm trying to work on a larger scale, too, and finding it to be very difficult. I love working on my 4x4's, but my 9x12's remain dusty. Here's how I've been trying to solve this problem.

cut three different sized papers: 4x4, 8x8, 9x12 (could be watercolor paper, bristol board, pieces of old cardboard, whatever as long as it's flat)

prime a 11x14 canvas, set aside

work the 4x4 until it's considered "done" and set it aside for 24 hours

get out the 8x8 and adhere the 4x4 to it anywhere you like (the corner, the center, whatever). work the 8x8 so the 4x4 becomes part of it somehow (as an accent, as a layer of a collage, as part of a painting). Set it aside for 24 hours

take a complimentary color to the 8x8 and color (paint, paper, whatever) the entire piece of the 9x12. Adhere the 8x8 to the piece. Add texture, paper, embellishments. set it aside for 24 hours.

Now you're to the canvas: treat the edges with a finish you feel would compliment the 9x12. I've used crumpled tissue paper, stucko (sp?) and thick layers of acrylic paint. Adhere the 9x12 to the canvas and embellish the whole piece.

The reason why I set the piece down and let it sit for 24 hours between each layer is because I get too overwhelmed by the scale. When I come back to it, the flow is so much easier and it comes very naturally. I tried completing one in one sitting the first time and I ended up throwing the piece away because it frustrated me so much.

I enjoy this one very much! I know what you mean by that certain comfort in working small. I made a small series of collages, a few months ago, that were 12" x 12" and on canvas.You can see them at http://rplowman.blogspot.com/ I had to be careful about over-working them.